US embassy promotes hydroponic practices in Jordan

AMMAN – The US embassy on Saturday showcased locally grown hydroponic and organic vegetables during a reception with Jordanian producers and government officials held in honour of visiting US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells hosted the event, which featured seasonal vegetables from local farms. The US government, through USAID’s Hydroponic Green Farming Initiative, has been working to promote this “innovative agricultural method”, which enables Jordanian farmers to grow higher-value crops while using significantly less water, according to an embassy statement. It is estimated that the hydroponic technique uses 50-75 per cent less water than crops grown in the traditional field. 

Under the programme, crops are grown in a closed, recirculating nutrient solution instead of using drip irrigation, so fewer fertilisers and pesticides are used as well.  Hydroponic techniques also help eliminate soil-borne diseases and reduce the rate of vegetable spoilage. “The future of hydroponic farming techniques is bright in Jordan,” Wells said at the event.